Machine for handling hides or leather in bulk.



C. RUHE.

VMCHiNE FOR HANDLING HIDES 0R LEATHER IN BULK.. APPLICATION FILED suLY s, |915. nENEwED MAY 29,1916.

1 ,210,700, Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@NAAAW QQMM c. RUHE, MACHINE FOR HANDLING HIDES 0R LEATHER IN BULK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8.19I5. RENEWED MAY 29, i916.

LOO. 1 A Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. RUHE.

MACHINE EUR HANDLING HIDEs 0R LEATHER LN BULK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,19I5- RENEWED MAY 29.19I6.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@a M A -Sof 7/ sig se C )i f/L Kaff-c5012 Zzlifejgm M wilmeoow cantaron RUHE, or oLAN, new YORK.

MACHINE FOR HANDLING HDES R LEATHER IN BULK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 191'?.

Application led July 8, 1915, Serial No. 38,834. Renewed May 29, 1916. A Serial No. 100,699.

To all wlw/m. t may concern:

Beit known that I, GARLETON RUHE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at new and useful Improvements in Machines for Handling Hides or Leather in Bulk, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus adapted for use in connection with a tanning vat or vats, for handling` the hides or leather, while not necessarilyT restricted to such use. l

An important object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, which is adapted to raise the hides or leather, in bulk, from within the vat, and transport the same, to a desired remote point from the vat, thus dispensing with the individual handling of the hides.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine ofthe above mentioned character, so constructed that the entire weight of the pack of hides or leather beingL removed from the vat, will be directly carried thereby, dispensing with the necessity of suspending apparatus from the upper portion of a building, which ordinarily inprovide a character,

closes the vat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, having its elements arranged in a highly compact and convenient manner.

A further machine of the above mentioned which may be constructed in a standard size, and which is adjustable for use in connection with vats, tracks, and associated elements of different sizes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course Iof the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a.

part ofl this specificationy and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same arranged above a vat, which is shown in section, Fig. 2 is a detail section taken on line 2-7-2 of Fig. 3, Fig. 3a is a detailed section 'through a pair of winding drums, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the appara-tus, Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is Aan end elevation of the apparatus, Fig. .6 '1S e Vertical lailuiliilal sectional View object of the invention is toy through a pivoted bracket or arm, and, Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, theiiumeral 10 designates a supporting structure or frame as a whole, embodying lower longitudinal horizontal beams 11, having vertical outer and inner beams or posts 12 and 13, rigidly attached thereto, as shown. These vertical posts 12 and 13 are preferably connected by diagonal braces 14, as shown.

The numeral designates upper horizontal longitudinal beams, rigidly secured to the top of the inner vertical posts 13 and the upper portions of the outer posts 12, as shown. The horizontal beams 15 are connected with the upper ends of the posts 12 by diagonal braces 16, as shown. The outer vertical posts 12 are lrigidly connected by transverse horizontal beams 17 The supporting structure or frame is preferably formed of wood, while any other suitable material may be employed.

Secured to the outer edge of each post 12 by bolts 19 or the like are knuckles 1S. These knuckles enter openings 20, formed in a horizontally swinging arm or bracket 21, as clearlyv shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Bearing balls 22 are preferably arranged within the openings 20, as shown. The vertical portion of the bracket is preferably cylindrical and is provided with a vertical opening or openings 23, for registration with openings 24 formed in the knuckles 18, for receiving a pivot element or pin 25, as shown. The bracket 21 is provided in its lower end with a large opening 26, receiving the end of the horizontal beam 11. The lower portion 27 of the bracket has an opening or recess 28, receiving the lower end of the pin 25. The bracket 21 embodies an outwardly extending horizontal arm 29, provided with a vertical opening 30, receiving the shank or spindle 31 of a pivoted wheel carrier or frame 32. Roller bearings 33 are interposed between the frame 32 and the arm 29, as shown. The frame 32 embodies outer depending ears Ior knuckles 311 and an inner ear vor knuckle 35, for receiving flanged wheels 86. A stubshaft or axle 37 passes through the aper- .tures in the knuckles 34 and 35 and carries the wheels 36, with bearing rollers 38 interposed between tlie hubs of these anged wheels and the axle 3f?, The flanged wheels 36 are adapted to travel upon track rails 39. n

wheels 36 may be'swung inwardly or outwardlyY and remain parallel with relation to each other, to properly travel upon the track rails 39 of tracks of different gages.

To aid in the adjustment of the flanged wheels 36 as above stated, a jack, designated as a whole by the numeral 40, is rigidly secured to each ofthe beams 11, preferably upon its outer side and equidistantly spaced from the ends thereof, to elevate the side Vof the machine. rIhis jack embodies a tubular body portion or standard 41, rigidly at- Y tached to the beam 11, and having a screwcontacting with these curved tracks 44 designates inner This pulley is, carried by a shaft 49 downwardly into a vat threaded axial opening for receiving' a screw 42, extending downwardly ybelow the tubular standard 41, and having swiveled connection with a head 43, adapted to Contact with a portion of the track or other support. It is apparent that the screw 42 may be rotated by any suitable means, such asby engaging its head 42 by a suitable wrench or tool.-

'As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the numeral horizontal beams, rigidly attached, to the lbeams 15 by any suitable means. Securedy to the beams 44 and arranged upon opposite sides thereof yarel curved pairs of tracks 45 preferably formed here arefour pairs of these curved tracks arranged within the` four corners of the supporting structure, as shown. Slidably are four horizontally swinging arms 46, the outer ends 0f which are pivotally connected with thefbeams 15. As morey clearly shown in Fig. 2, each arm Vv46 has a tubular pivot 47 pivotally mounted in an opening 47 in the beam 15. It is thus apparent that the inner free ends of the adjusting arms 46 may be swung inwardly and outwardly with respect to the supporting structure. Each adjustable arm 46 is provided near its outer end with an opening` 48, near and above which is disposed a preferably grooved pulley 49.

Journal'ed in bearings 50. The arm 46 is also provided adjacent its tubular pivot 47 with bearings 51 receiving a stub-shaft 52, carrying a grooved pulley 51.

Passed about the pulleys 49 and 51 are iiexible nonextensible elements, such as chains 52 or the like. There are four of these chains which are adapted to extend 53, for suitable connection with a tray 54, of any well known or preferred construction.- At its corners this tray is provided with eye bolts 55, to which the chains 52 are attached.

ksorted to without departing Secured to each set of inner posts. 13 are pairs of side beams 56, between which are rotatably mounted drums 57, carried by shafts 58. -Thesershafts are rotated by gears 59`and 60. The gear 59 is rotated by a gear A61, which engages a gear 62, rotating the gear 60. The gear 61 is rotated by a sprocket wheel 62 driven Vby afsprocket chain 63. This sprocket chain extends upwardly to engage a sprocket wheel 64, rigidly mounted upon the end of a transverse rotatable driving shaft 65, journaled through bearings 66. The shaft 65 carries a gear 67, driven by a gear 68, which is rotated by a motor 69 or the like. c

As more clearly shown in Fig. 5, the supporting frameY or structure lOvhas a large centralxopening entirely open at the bottom whereby the tray 54 and the pack of hides or leather may be moved'` upwardly into 'this opening; The winding mechanisms are disposed entirely out of this opening, being arranged upon orv within the longitudinal sides of the machine. The'motor 69 is also arranged exteriorlyi of the opening as it is disposed upon the top of the supporting frame. It is thus apparent that the elements of the machine are arranged in a highly compact and convenient manner.

In the use of the machine, the supporting structure or frame has its wheels 36 placed upon the track rails 39, to travel thereon. These track rails extend to or across the vat 53 and portions of the railsadjacent the vat are preferably constructed of wood: When the supporting frame is arranged directly over the vat, the tray 54 having the pack of hides or leather thereon is lowered into the vat, by suitable operation of the motor 69 and associated elements. When itis desired to remove the pack of hides or leather upon the'vat, the motor is driven to elevate the tray, and this tray while in the elevated vposition moves with the supporting frame, along the track, to a desired remote position, thus transporting the hides or leather, in bulk, without individually. handling the hides.

1t is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be refrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. In a machine for handling hides or leather in "a pack or bulk, a traveling supporting frame having a main opening, a hide or leather support adapted to be moved into the main opening, pairs of substantially horizontally swinging larms carried by the upper portion of the Supporting frame, pulleys carried by the inner free ends of the arms, a second set of pulleys carried by the outer ends of the arms, flexible elements attached to the support and passed about the pulleys, and winding mechanism carried by the supporting frame and having the flexible elements connected therewith.

2. In a machine for handling hides or leather in a pack or bulk, a traveling frame, a hide or leather support, pairsof substantially horizontally swinging arms having their outer ends pivotally connected with the sides of the frame,a set of pulleys carried by the free inner ends of the arms, a second set of pulleys carried by the outer pivoted ends of the arms, flexible elements attached to the support and passed about the pulleys, and winding mechanisms mounted upon the sides of the frame and connected with the flexible elements.

3. In a machine for handling hides or leather' in a pack or bulk, a traveling` supporting frame embodying side-members and having a main opening extending through its bottom, a hide or leather support adapted to be moved into the ina-in opening, pairs of substantially horizontally swinging arms having their outer ends pivotally connected with the side-members of the supporting frame, a set of pulleys carried by the inner free ends of the arms, a second set of pulleys carried by the outer pivoted ends of the arms, flexible elements attached to the support and passed about the pulleys, winding mechanisms mounted upon the sidemembers of the supporting frame, a transverse driving shaft mounted upon the upper portion of the supporting frame, driving connecting means between the shaft and the winding mechanisms, and a motor mounted upon the supporting frame to drive the shaft.

4. In a machine of the character described, a wheeled frame having an opening extending through its bottom, tracks connected with the frame near its corners and extending inwardly toward the center of the frame, supports movably mounted upon the tracks, pulleys carried by the supports, flexible elements engaging the pulleys and extending downwardly below the same, a hide or leather support secured to the flexible elements to be moved thereby, and winding mechanism mounted upon the frame and connected with the flexible elements to move them.

5. In a machine for handling hides or leather in a pack or bulk, a traveling frame having an opening extending through its bottom, tracks connected with the frame near its corners and extending inwardly toward its center, supports movably mounted upon the tracks, a set of pulleys carried by the supports, a second set of pulleys arranged adjacent the sides of the frame and supported thereby, flexible elements engaging the sets of pulleys and extending downwardly below the first named set, a hide or leather support secured to the ends of the flexible elements, winding mechanisms arranged upon the sides of the frame and connected with corresponding ends of the flexible elements, and means to drive the winding mechanisms.

6. In a machine for handling hides or leather in a pack or bulk, a traveling frame, pairs of substantially horizontally swinging arms having their outer ends pivotally connected with the sides of the frame, a set of pulleys carried by the inner free ends of the arms, a second set of pulleys arranged near the pivoted ends of the arms, flexible elements engaging said pulleys, a hide or leather support connected with the flexible elements, winding mechanisms mounted upon the sides of the frame and having connection with the flexible elements, and means to drive the winding mechanisms.

7. In a machine for handling hides or leather in a pack or bulk, a traveling frame having a main opening extending through its bottom, tracks connected with the frame near its corners and extending inwardly toward its center, supports movably mounted upon the tracks, an inner set of pulleys carried by the supports, an outer set of pulleys disposed adjacent the sides of the frame, winding mechanisms arranged within the sides of the frame below its top, flexible ele-l ments engaging the pulleys and connected with the winding mechanisms, a motor mounted upon the top of the frame, a transverse driving shaft driven by the motor and connected with the frame, gearing connecting the ends of the transverse shaft and winding mechanisms, and a hide or leather support connected with the flexible elements.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARLE'ION RUHE.

Witnesses C. L. PARKER, JAMES L. CRAWFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. G. 

